Holder for articles of magnetic material



Aug. 28, 1951 R. E. PHI-:LON 2,565,625

HOLDER FOR ARTICLES OF MAGNETIC MATERIAL Filed Nov. 29, 1949 f' il a f l" l I f v 30 T4710 \44 4 319 44 40 52 lam/,0219 M0] 1f \J '/4 7a; 1 )5.1 i l 11.1 l Il 9 l,"

6 /04 /0'0 \a6 $98 `a6 y/04 92 /NvE/vro/e Russe/.1. E. PHELON ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 28, 51951 UNITED STATES HOLDER' 'FOR' ARTICLES' OFiliIAGNETIG- MATERIAL f RussellE". Phelon, Longmeadow; Mass. Application November 29, 1949,SerialfNo.129,929

The inventionrelates to alrack or holder utilizing one or more permanent magnets and vadapted for holding articles consisting inwhole or inpart of magnetic material. A holder embodying .thenvention is particularly -adapted for domestic use, as forinstance in a kitchen, for holding cutlery, shears and the like. A holder embodying 4the f invention is also adapted-.for use in a workshop f or elsewhere for holding various small machinists or carpenters tools or other small articles.

The general object of the'inventon is to pro- 15 vide a holder ofthe type referred to which is simple and inexpensive, which has ample holding capability and which isattractive in appearance. A more specic object of the vinvention is` tov.

provide a holder of thetype referred to wherein- 20 the magnetVv or magnetsare enclosed-Within an opening or openings ina nonmagnetic-bodyandf are vertically insertable in the saidwopening-.or openings and Whereinthe pole pieces .are secured.

to the body above and belowrthemag-net or mag- 25 nets and in` engagement therewith, the said pole". pieces or at least oneof them servingrto Vsecure the magnet or magnets in place and to prevent relative vertical movement thereof.

Other more specific objects of 'the inventio'ner, willn be apparent from the-drawingand'fr'om thef following specification and claims.

In the drawing I 'have shown in ydetailseverall embodiments of the invention, but itfwill be understood that various changes maybe made"from` the constructions shown and thatv ythe drawing-.is not to be construed as deningor limiting., the scope of the invention, the claims forming. apart of 'this specification being relied upon for tlfatv purpose.

Of the drawing:

Fig. 1 is "a front .View of a holder embodying..A the invention.

Fig. 2 is a right vendl view.-

Fig. 3 is a combined plan. and sectionalview, 45

the section being-.taken-along the :line 3-3 -of1.= Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken-.along theline 4-4 of Fig.l 1.

Fig. 5 isfront view of `an -alternativeholdenf 50 embodying theinvention.

Fig. 6 isa right "end-:of:lthe'holdei'shown-:iinf= Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a vertical.sectional-viewitakenralong the lineI-'I ofl F1855# Fig.` 8 isNa verticalvlsectionalview taken along; the line 8 8 effige." v

Fig.` .9.' is .a plan Niew.. of ranother alternative .2 holder embodyingthe invention, aportion being.; broken Vaway andish'own .alngthe line 9.-9 'of A Fig'. 10.Y 4

Fig. 10 is a lcombinedfright end 'andfsectional viewof the holder -shown inFig.V 9; .the .secticnN being taken alongfthe line .I 0-'-I Il of 1"ig'..9. i

Referring more particularly. to Fig.-V 1 4 to `4 .oil--- thedrawing, I0, Hilarelngitudinal.spacedperev manent magnets each having opposite Vhoriz'ontall pole faces at the tpandbottom. The magnets may be formed of any suitable-magnetic materiaL. such as an iron-nickel-alumin'um-cobalt alloy. While two magnets are shown, it will be under.-V stood that the invention isnot so limitedand that'. a diierent number of 'magnets maybe .provided/Z The magnets are shown as being rectangular in horizontal cross section but Vthe cross sectionalI shape may be changed.A

A body I2 of the nonmagnetic materialislpro-A vided, the body horizontally' surroundingthe, magnets II),d ID and having vertical interiori faces-l engaging thesaidmagnets-to prevent relativehorizontal movement fth'ereof. As shown, they; body I2 has transversely Aspaced'verticalffrontl and rear Walls-I2 .andI67'betWeen-Which-fthe magnets .are located.. Ihe said wallsareprol vided Vwith longitudinally .spaced pairs of- .separatea interior notches for receiving-themagnets-which-gx notches have Vertical-faces.` 'I'hefrontrwallflIL has notches I8, I8 lfor receiving and tting :they front portions of themagnets andf thetreartwall I 6 has notches 20,20 for `receivingand .ttingetheu rear portions` Aof .the -vmag-nets.4

The `body I2 has )initially exposed `:upper V`and. lower horizontal faces-.22-andM24which-arefsofspaced that they register-.- with fthe opposite polea facesv of the magnets; Inasmuch as the -lupperft and.v lower body faces 22 fand 24 are Yinitially-.exposed, the-notchesfIB, Awand-20,120 are-openatthe top and at `the bottom andlthe magnets. cam?. be inserted vertically;v either downward 101i rup.im ward, as may be preferred.. v

Therbody I2 -isffpreferablyz'azzsingle piecezof material, .suchf as molded resin, andi it comprisestf` notl only the `beforementionedflfronti-and rear-.f Walls VIl! Vand I Ibutalsoend walls'26, 26m/laicher connect the/front'andi.rearfwallsfV In additibn there may be aftransverse centralzwallf. Thee spaces between the aforesaidwwalls-fareventirelyi open at the tops and7 at-fthe bottomsrftheref. Extending longitudinallyffromf .the endr rwalls 26;".

26are walls 130,130 whichllcooperatefwith .the endl.

Walls 26, 26 to provide open front notches 32, 32. 'I'he walls 36, 30 are apertured at 34, 34 for the reception of screws by means of which the entire holder can be attached to a vertical supporting wall. The said notches 32, 32 provide spaces for the heads of the screws and permit ready access thereto.

Two relatively thin pole pieces 36 and 38 are provided, these being formed of magnetic material. The pole pieces respectively engage the upper and lower faces 22 and 24 of the body and they also engage the top and bottom pole faces of the magnets. The pole pieces are suitably connected with the body and are preferably connected therewith by means of a plurality of headed pins 40, 40 which extend through apertures in the pole pieces and into registering apertures in the body. The last said apertures in the body are initially slightly smaller than the pins so that the pins must be driven into place lby them, beingheld frictionally so as to retain the pole pieces. It will be seen that the pole pieces, by reason of their engagement with the magnets and'by reason of their connection with the body. serve to retain the magnets in place and to prevent any relative vertical movement thereof.

The pole pieces 36 and 38 have vertically registering narrow edge faces 42 and 44 which are spaced outward or forward from the body. The said edge faces 42 and 44 of the pole pieces longitudinally span the magnets and they are preferably continuously curving convexly between points which are near the respective ends of the pole pieces and which are spaced longitudinally beyond the respectively adjacent magnets. Preferably the said edge faces 42 and 44 of the pole pieces have substantially greater curvature at the end zones thereof than at the central portions or zones thereof.

'In use the holder is suitably mounted on a vertical supporting wall in horizontal position as shown, the registering edge faces 42 and 44 of the pole pieces being vertical. Articles formed in whole or in part of magnetic material can be placed in contact with the faces 42 and 44 and they will be held magnetically. Fig. 1 of the drawing shows a knife A and a screw driver B which'are so held. It will be understood that while the knives and other articles are held sufciently firmly so that they will not be separated by gravity or vibration, they can be readily removed -when desired by graspingv them and pulling them off.

The narrow front faces 42 and 44 provide small areas of contact with theparts which are to be held. This makes it impossible to shunt so much magnetism through a few articles at one end of the holder that there is not enough left to support articles at the other end. This results from the fact that the available amount of magnetism for each linear unit of length is limited by the saturation of the iron in the areas of contact with the articles. Another advantage in making the engaging faces narrow is that a high flux density between the articles and the said engaging faces is. assured, thus providing effective holding power inasmuch as the holding power is proportionate to the square of flux density. Still another advantage of a holder embodying the invention is that each article is held at two relatively widely spaced positions, thus assuring a favorable leverage effect on the article.

.The alternative holder shown in the Figs. to .8 is similar in many respects to that shown in Figs. lvto 4 but it nevertheless differs in various details. There is provided a unitary one-piece body 46 formed of nonmagnetic material which material may advantageously be wood. The body 46 is preferably generally rectangular in cross section and it may have any desired length within reasonable limits. The body 46 has two vertically spaced longitudinally extending horizontal slots therein. These slots are thin and relatively deep and they are initially open at the front. By reason of the slots the body has an upper portion 48, a central portion 56 and a lower portion 52, but the said portions are integral with each other.

The body 46 also has therein a plurality of similar longitudinally spaced separate vertical holes 54, 54. Each of the holes extends between the said vertically spaced horizontal slots and also extends vertically beyond one of the slots to the exterior of the body. As shown the holes extend downward through the lower portion 52, being open at the bottom. The said holes preferably do not extend upward through the upper portion 48.

Similar permanent magnets 56, 55 are located in the respective holes 54, 54, the said magnets having opposite pole faces at the tops and bottoms thereof. The magnets are of such length and are so positioned that their upper pole faces are in the plane of the lower face of the upper slot and that their lower pole faces are in the plane of the upper face of the lower slot. The magnets are vertically insertable in the holes 54, 54 through the lower open ends thereof. While the invention is not necessarly so limited, it is ordinarily preferable that the holes 54, 54 be round and that the magnets 56, 56 be cylindrical and of such size as to approximately fit the holes.

Two flat horizontal pole pieces 58 and 68 of magnetic material are provided. The said pole pieces are located in and fit the said slots in the body 46 and they respectively engage the top and bottom pole faces ofthe several magnets 56, 56. The pole pieces have vertically registering narrow front faces 62 and 64 which are spaced forward from the front face of the body 46. Preferably the pole pieces also have end faces 66, 66 and 68, 68 which are spaced longitudinally from the end faces of the body.

Inasmuch as the pole pieces 58 and 66 engage the top and bottom pole faces of the magnets they serve to prevent relative vertical movements thereof. During assembly the magnets are rst inserted through the open ends of the holes 54, 54 and then the pole pieces are entered in the slots, the magnets thus being securely placed and being prevented from vertical movement out of the said holes in the body.

The upper pole piece 58 is secured in place by means of a plurality of vertical' pins or nails 10, 16 which extend downward from the top of the body through the upper portion 48, through" the pole pieceand into the central portion 5U of the body. The pole piece preferably has preformed holes thereinfor receiving the `pins `or nails, but when the body is'forrned of wood no preformed holes are provided in the body itself. When the vnails have been driven into place they servepnot only to lock the pole piece 58 in place but alsoto connect the upper body portion 48 withv the central -body portion 50. The lower pole piece 60 is similarly held in place by a plurality of pins or nails 12, 12 which are similar to the nails 10, 10. A repetition of the detailed descrintion is unnecessary. v

Preferably the body46 is vprovided with two'or more longitudinally spaced/horizontal holes 14,V

5 14' 'for vreceiving yscrews by "means "of 'which theJ entire' holder 'canbev secured to atsuitable' "supe porting wall.'

The manner of use'of theholderasshownin;l Figsl 5"to8 'is similar tothatof the holderasv shown Figs. l 'to '4 and a repetition of thgde-r` scriptionA is unnecessary.` The 'holder-'A may lbe; manufactured in'longunitswhich may be-sawed" transversely' between anytwo magnets yso as lvto provide shorter units' having the lengths-required* for particular purposes.`

The alternative 'holdertshown in 'Figs-5 9 andflO- is also 'similar innany respects" Ato "that shown' Yini1 Figs.V l to 4 but it is' 'different as to details# There is provided "a body 1S formedofLnonmagneticf material' which materiai may* advantageously lbef' wood. The body 'llihasinitially fexposedfiupper andlower' horizontal faces-18 'and 80; The hori-J zontal cross sectional'shape'ofthe-body may'be widely varied, but as' 'shown the body has 1a=verti-2o calouter face 32 'whichis convexly curvedthrough-VA a substantial angle whicl1"is'-'preferably-1899or more. The saidouter-face 82 may advantageously conform to a cylinder. Preferably and as shown, the body has `a rear flat face 84.

The body 'ES has therein a plurality of Asimilar separate vertical holes 25, 86 each of which extends through the body between the upper and lower faces I8 and Sil. The holes 86, B6 may be variously positioned, but preferably and as shown i.

the holes 8E,v 85 are `positioned 'with their 'centers spacedl alongran' arcuateline uniformlyz spacedfrom-or concentric -withthe -convexly curvedouter face 82. The holes-are near the said outer face and are substantially uniformly spaced therefrom.

Similar magnets, iarelo'cated in -therespective holes 89,436'in-thebodypthesaid magnets having opposite pole faces at the tops and bottoms thereof. The magnets are of such length and are so positioned that their upper pole faces register with the upper face 18 of the body and that their lower pole faces register with the lower face 80 of the body. The magnets are vertically insertable in the holes 86, 86, either downward or upward, as may be preferred.

Two relatively thin pole pieces 9D and 92 are provided, these being formed of magnetic material. The pole pieces respectively engage the upper and lower faces 'i8 and 80 of the body and they also engage the top and bottom pole faces of the magnets. The pole pieces 90 and 92 are connected with the body as hereinafter described, and by reason of such connection they serve to retain the magnets in place and to prevent any relative vertical movements thereof.

The said pole pieces 90 and 92 have a plurality of pairs of vertically registering straight edge faces 94, 94 and 96, 9G. The edge faces of each two adjacent pairs are at angles to each other and the edge faces of each pair are tangent to arcs spaced outward from the outer face 82 of the body and conforming to the curvature thereof.

Thin flat upper and lower members 98 and |00 are preferably provided, these being 'formed of nonmagnetic material which material may advantageously be wood. The upper member 98 engages the upper pole piece 98 and the lower member |08 engages the lower pole piece 92. Preferably the said upper and lower members 98 and |80 have the same or approximately the same shape as the body 18. The members 98 and |09 protect the pole pieces and prevent any contact therewith, except at or near the edge faces thereof.

Tl'i upper" ntnma'gne-tic'I member 9e 'land the f1" upperpolepiece 90 are connected to the body 16 by' means -ofa --plurality of -vertica'lipins ori nails '-1 102151 llil which extend downward'through the said-ff member '98, through' the said pole piece 90 and`-l into'fthe -body 16.2 The pole piece-preferably'hasi' preformed-holes therein for receiving the pins ornails,` but when the member -98iand' the-body- J6 are Aformed of wood no vvpreformed holes -are prol` vided* therein.' When' the nailslhavev b'eenfdrivenSIL into place lthey serve tofrmlyisecurefthe upper# member-98 and -the pole piece 9) 'to 'the body: 'I'hellower member |00 andthe lower-pole piece'92f` arersimilarly connectedfto the fbody by a pluralityy ofpins ori-nails? |04; lllfwhichare similar vto-the nail'sflUZ, |02. A repetition of th`e-'detailed1-deI`` V scriptionis unnecessary.-

The-'fholderas shown and describedican befl attachedHto-a verticalsupportingwall in-.any desired :mannenbut preferably` andf as shown a thin"-atpla`te `|06 is connected to thef-bodyl 'I6 '.'bymeansof pins or Vnails |08; |08.- The plate IUS-fishfo'rmedof a nonmagnetic materialy of-such character that it isf particularly'`l adapted to l be- 1 held-"Abya1 suitable glueorfcement. The holder isfadapted -to be mounted on a vertical sup-1f porting-fwall vsuch asr Ilby applying glue ori cementito the 'plate |06 'or to the wall or to both andigbyfallowing the cement tohardenso as :to-SA securelyV attachtheplate |06 vto the wall.

The manner of use of the holder-shown*in-'1ii`gs`v 9 and -10 is similar to-that 'of the holder shown' inf Fi'gsfl'l to 4 anda -repetition of theldescription'"L is-unn'ecessary.A However, it is pointedv out that 1 articlesfto be held can be-engaged with any one A ofthe-several pairs of angularly' disposed'straight' '1 edg'es=94,l 94 and 9b,` 96."v

What 'fis claimed is:

1.r Infa holder for articles 'ofmagneticrn'ateriz'il-,`z the combination of a longitudinally extending unitary one-piece body of nonmagnetic material having two vertically spaced longitudinally eX- tending horizontal slots therein initially open at the front, the said body also having a plurality of longitudinally spaced vertical holes therein each of which extends between the said slots and also extends vertically beyond one of the slots to the exterior of the body, a plurality of similar permanent magnets located in the respective holes and having opposite pole faces at the tops and bottoms thereof which magnets are of such length and are so positioned that their upper pole faces are in the plane of the lower face of the upper slot and that their lower pole faces are in the plane of the upper face of the lower slots, the said magnets being vertically insertable in the holes in the body through the portions of the said holes which extend to the exterior of the body, and two flat horizontal pole pieces of magnetic material located in and fitting the said slots in the body and having vertically registering front edge faces which are spaced forward from the body, the said pole pieces respectively engaging the upper and lower pole faces of the magnets and one of the pole pieces by reason of its engagement with the magnets preventing the vertical movement thereof out of the said holes in the body.

2. In a holder for articles of magnetic material, the combination of a longitudinally extending unitary one-piece body of nonmagnetic material having two vertically spaced longitudinally extending horizontal slots therein initially open at the front, the said body also having a plurality of longitudinally spaced vertical holes therein which also extends vertically downward beyond the lower slot to the exterior of the body, a plurality of similar permanent magnets located in the respective holes and having opposite poleV faces at the tops and bottoms thereof which magnets are of such length and so positioned that their upper pole faces are in the place of the lower face of the upper slot and that their lower pole faces are in the plane of the upper face of the lower slots, the said magnets being insertable upwardly in the holes in the body through the lower portions of the said holes which extend to the exterior of the body, and two at horizontal pole pieces of magnetic material located in and fitting the said slots in the body and having vertically registering front edge faces which are spaced forward from the body, the said pole pieces respectively engaging the upper and lower pole faces of the magnets and the lower pole piece by reason of its engagement with the magnets preventing the downward movement thereof out of the said holes in the body.

3. In a holder for armies of magnetic ma#l f terial, the combination of a longitudinally Iextending unitary one-piece body of nonmagnetic material having two vertically spaced longitudinally extending horizontal slots therein initially open at the front, the said body also having a plurality of longitudinally spaced vertical holes therein each of which extends between the said slots and also extends vertically beyondone of the slots to the exterior of the body, a plurality of similar permanent magnets located in Vthe respective holes and having opposite pole faces at the tops and bottoms thereof which magnets are of such length and are so positioned -that their upper pole faces are in the plane of the lower face of the upper slot and that their lower pole faces are in the plane of the upper face of the lower slots, the said magnets being vertically insertable in the holes in the body through the portions of the said holes which extend to the exterior of the body, two flat horizontal pole pieces of magnetic material located in and fitting the said slots in the body and having vertically registering front edge faces which are spaced forward from the body, the said pole pieces respectively engaging the upper and lower pole faces of the magnets and one of the pole pieces by reason of its engagement with the magnets preventing the verticalmovement thereof out of the said holes in the body, an upper plurality of vertical pins extending downward from the top of the body through the upper pole piece and into the central portion of the body below the upper slot, and a lower plurality of vertical pins extending upward from the bottom of the body through the lower pole piece and into the central portion of the body above the lower slot.

RUSSELL E. PHELON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 723,518 Ellison Mar. 24, 1903 2,337,249 Koller Dec. 21, 1943 2,414,653 Lookholder Jan. 21, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 386,732 Great Britain Jan. 26, 1933 444,786 Great Britain Mar. 27, 1936 

